Sealing fitting



June 21, 1955 c. H. BISSELL 217111433 SEALING FITTING Filed March 21, 1951 2 Sheets--Sheet 1 M 1A1, l

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SEALING FITTING Filed March 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J N V EN TOR. @112; 14 fijmmz Unite States Patent SEALING FITTING Carl H. Bissell, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Grouse-Hinds Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 21, 1951, Serial No. 216,727

4 Claims. (Cl. 174-50) This invention relates to sealing fittings for vertically extending electric conduit lines, and has as an object a sealing fitting of the type referred to embodying a structure providing a drain pasage, the inner end of which terminates below the level of the sealing compound but in proximity to the filling opening through which the compound is injected into the fitting, whereby the drain passage can be conveniently extended through the sealing compound for communication with the upper part of the fitting, and whereby the workman can readily make certain that such a passage has been established through the sealing compound.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a sealing fitting embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are views, similar to Figure 2, of slightly modified arrangements.

The fitting consists of a housing preferably in the form of a metal casting and provided at its opposite upper and lower ends with hub portions 11, 12, which are threaded internally for connection to the conduit line 13.

The central portion of the fitting is formed with a well for receiving the sealing compound material indicated at 14 in Figure 2. Preferably, the side wall of the housing is formed with a relatively large work opening which may be substantially coextensive with the height of the compound receiving well, as shown in Figure 2, or it may be of a diameter covering the major portion of the well.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, this work opening is provided with a closure 15 formed with an external boss 16 apertured to provide a filling opening 17 through which the sealing compound 14 is poured or otherwise injected into the fitting. The closure 15 is also formed with a boss 18, a portion of which extends inwardly, and the boss 18 is formed with a drain passage 19, the inner end 20 of which is of reduced dimension.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the filling opening 17 and the drain passage 19 are formed directly in the side wall of the fitting, the closure 24 for the work opening serving only as a threaded closure for the openmg.

in the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the filling opening 17 is formed directly in the side wall of the housing and the drain passage 19 formed in the closure 25.

In each arrangement, the inner end of the drain passage 19 terminates in proximity to the filling opening 17 and somewhat below the level of the sealing compound indicated at 26.

In the structures shown in Figures 2 and 3, the wor. man can conveniently form a continuation of the drain passage through the compound, either after it has beoil 2,711,438 Patented June 21, 1955 come set or hardened, or partially set. Due to the fact that the extended passage in the sealing compound is located in proximity to the filling opening 17, the workman can visually observe the formation of this passage and make certain that it extends to the sealing compound.

The drain passages 19 are arranged to support a removable core member, if the workman desires to use such a member in forming the drain passage extension in the sealing compound. This core member may be in the nature of a rod 30 which may be formed of rubber-like material. The inner ends of the drain passages 19 are of restricted dimension, as shown at 20 in Figures 2 and 4, for supporting or positioning the core member 36 so that it extends diagonally upwardly through the sealing compound and in proximity to the filling opening 17. In Figure 3, the restriction of the drain passage is effected by a washer 31 which may be formed of rubber or yieldable material. After the sealing compound has hardened, the core member 30 is withdrawn leaving a continuation of the drain passage extending through the sealing compound. in either case, the portion of the drain passage extending through the sealing compound material can be readily inspected through the filling opening by the workman, or the electrical inspector, and with this arrangement it can be readily ascertained that the drain passage has been properly formed.

The function of the drain pasage is to permit the escape of any condensate that may form in the conduit line above the sealing fitting, the sealing compound serving to effectively seal off the upper and lower portions of the conduit run in a flame tight relation. After the fitting is installed and the core member 30 removed through the drain opening, a suitable explosion proof tight drain member or plug is threaded into the outer end of the drain passage as indicated in the dotted outline 28 in Figs. 3 and 4. The filling opening is, of course, closed by threading a pipe plug into the outer end of the filling opening as shown in Fig. 2. Any condensate collecting in the drain passage may be periodically removed by removing the explosion proof member or plug from the drain passage until such condensate has been drained there from, whereupon the explosion proof member or plug is reinserted.

What 1 claim is:

l. A sealing fitting for vertically extending electric conduit lines comprising a housing formed at its opposite upper and lower ends with hub portions adapted for connection to the conduit line, a sealing compound receiving well formed in the housing intermediate said hub portions, said housing having a work opening in one side substantially coextensive with the vertical dimension of the well, a filling opening in the side wall of the housing adjacent to the upper hub portion and communicating with the upper portion of the well, a closure detachably secured in said work opening, said closure being formed with a drain passage extending diagonally upwardly through said well in angular relation to the axis or" the housing, and the inner portion of said passage being of restricted dimension.

2. A sealing fitting for vertically extending conduit lines comprising an elongated housing having hub portions at its upper and lower ends for attachment to the conduit line and being formed with a sealing compound receiving well intermediate said hubs, a filling opening formed in the side wall of the housing adjacent to said upper hub portion and communicating with the upper portion only of said well, a drain passage formed in the side wall of the housing below said filling opening, the axis of said passage extending upwardly through said well and the inner portion of said passage being of restricted dimension, a core member removably mounted in said restricted portion of the drain passage, said core member extending through said well and terminating in the upper portion thereof in adjacency to said filling openmg.

3. A sealing fitting for vertically extending conduit lines comprising an elongated housing having hub portions at its upper and lower ends for attachment to the conduit line and being formed with a sealing compound receiving well intermediate said hubs, a filling opening formed in the side Wall of the housing adjacent to said upper hub portion and communicating with the upper portion only of said well, a drain passage formed in the side wall of the housing below said filling opening, the axis of said passage extending upwardly through said well in angular relation to the axis of the housing, and the inner portion of said passage being of restricted dimension, a flexible core member removably mounted in said restricted portion of the drain passage, said core member extending upwardly through said well and terminating in the upper portion thereof.

4. A sealing fitting for vertically extending conduit lines comprising an elongated housing having hub portions at its upper and lower ends for attachment to the conduit line and being formed with a sealing compound receiving well intermediate said hubs, a filling opening formed in the side wall of the housing adjacent to said upper hub portion and communicating with the upper portion only of said well, a drain passage formed in the side wall of the housing below said filling opening, the axis of said passage extending upwardly through said well, a core member removably mounted in said drain passage, said core member extending through said well and terminating in the upper portion thereof in adjacency to said filling opening.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,386,185 Beaver et al. Oct. 9, 1945 2,402,840 Olley June 25, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 539,569 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1941 

